New London police seize gun, marijuana; arrest two

New London – A lengthy investigation by police into suspected drug trafficking from a Jefferson Avenue home led to two arrests and the seizure of a handgun on Wednesday.

New London police patrol officers and detectives from the department’s narcotics unit and investigative division executed a search and seizure warrant at 365 Jefferson Ave., where police said they found evidence of drug dealing, a firearm and firearm accessories.

New London police were joined in the raid by members of the state police Emergency Services Unit, Statewide Narcotics Unit and a K-9 team from the Department of Homeland Security.

Raashid Cox, 24, of 365 Jefferson Ave. was charged with operating a drug factory, criminal possession of a handgun, alerting or removing the identification mark of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a housing complex and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lamont H. Waites, 19, of 365 Jefferson Ave. was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a housing complex, operating a drug factory and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Court records show that among past criminal convictions, Cox previously was sentenced to a prison term in an earlier gun-related arrest.